Santee is a city in San Diego County, California, United States.

The city is bisected by the San Diego River, a linear greenbelt that includes parks, trails and more than 1,100 acres (450 ha) of natural habitat.

These original residents established the village of Sinyeweche on the banks of the San Diego River in the present-day Santee area.

[6] In 1877, George A. Cowles, a pioneer rancher and businessperson, purchased 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) to develop his vineyards.

[7] Santee shares the northern part of a valley with the city of El Cajon.

Rattlesnake Mountain is home to the Sky Ranch community, and is topped with a large illuminated star during the holiday season.

Estimated median household income in 2008: $71,806 (up from $53,624 in 2000) Located on 15 acres (6.1 ha) in Santee is the Las Colinas Detention Facility,[20] which serves as the primary point of intake for women prisoners in San Diego County.

The concerts are free to attend and are held on Thursday nights at Town Center Community Park East.

The park is located along the San Diego River and is split by Wooglen Vista Creek.

The west side of the park holds five youth softball fields and a batting cage.

[29] The trail features a decomposed granite path lined by wooden fence posts and allows fishing access to the San Diego River.

[33] The trail officially ends at the golf course but connecting it through the golf course to West Hills Parkway and Mission Trails Regional Park is one of the San Diego River Park Foundation's priority projects.

SANDAG is leading the project and has completed the required environmental work but has made no further progress.

[34] Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is a 190-acre (77 ha) park for fishing, camping, bird watching, and picnicking.

The park features seven recycled water lakes stocked with sports fish year-round and 300 full-hook-up campsites.

[39] This course has hosted the US Olympic Trials for the 50k racewalk in 2012, 2016, and 2020, in addition to several USATF Race Walk Championships.

[44] San Diego Christian College moved to Santee from El Cajon in early 2013.

Other than Sycamore Canyon (only K-6), each school campus serves kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8).

The schools are divided into elementary (K-6) and junior high (7–8), with each using different parts of the campus and having different ending times.

On March 5, 2001, 15-year-old Charles Andrew Williams opened fire in a boys' bathroom and a grass quad area at Santana High School.

The city is bisected by four main thoroughfares: Mast Boulevard and Mission Gorge Road traverse east and west, while Magnolia Avenue and Cuyamaca Street cross north and south.

Gillespie Field, the oldest and largest of eight commercial aviation airports operated by San Diego County, is located on Santee's southern border with the city of El Cajon.